Would Graduates Rather Go It Alone Than Become Employees?

Posted by admin on October 27, 2014

The number of graduates choosing to work for themselves after they finish university (as opposed to becoming employees) has nearly doubled in the past year, finds a recent study completed by PeoplePerHour. The number of graduates registering as freelancers or micro-business owners has increased by over 90%, with male graduates up 110% and female graduates up 94%.

It was found that the most popular skills being offered by graduates being website design and mobile app development.

PeoplePerHour also suggests that the number of 18-21 year olds signing up to their freelance listing website has increased by 69% over the past year which leads us to believe that a number of young people are choosing self-employment over university.

'For those leaving university with student debts, the barrier to launching a business is typically a lack of start-up capital – and even though working for themselves may be an ambition for the future, the obvious and sensible first move is to find a job,' Xenios Thrasyvoulou, founder and CEO of PeoplePerHour states.

Xenios continues that the online mobile revolution means that you can launch a business from the comfort of your own home. This means that there is no need to pay to rent a permanent office or commit to staff.

“The entrepreneurial spirit is still alive and kicking, and we expect to see more graduates, encouraged by seeing more and more of their peers starting business ventures, choosing to work for themselves, rather than fighting each other for existing vacancies,” he adds.